Celebrating our Parkinson's Nurse Specialists
Have you ever wondered what a Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist (PNS) schedule looks like? Find out more below. PNS Donna Mallaby talks about life in the South West with Parkinson's WA.
Find out more about the service here
Pictured: Donna's home office
The wonderful thing about being a Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist (PNS) is that no day is ever the same.
Every single day has the potential to be different, energising, engaging and so very rewarding, why? Because I get to see you!
As Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists, we have the privilege to be invited into people’s homes to assist and review their needs, chat with carers/partners and provide education and support, where it matters. You get to see the impact and change of your home visits which is incredibly rewarding.
What to expect during a PNS visit you ask?
Lots of questions. The more information you can share with us, the better we can help you. I have met some wonderful individuals: retired farmers, business owners, principals, administration workers, authors and artists.
"My highlight would be getting to know the person behind the diagnosis."
Donna Mallaby
South West PNS
I’ve had games of darts (I lost), fed horses and goats, played instruments and hung out washing.
My week usually starts out on the road visiting patients in their homes, hospitals and care facilities all over our beautiful South West region. The later part of the day, I’ll settle into my favourite room of the house (my beautiful home office).
I’ll complete patient follow-up calls, make bookings, and check and send any emails that may have come through during the day. This is a great time for me to consolidate my day and plan for tomorrow’s adventure.
The later part of my week is when I spend the day busily typing my nursing assessments from that week. This is an integral part of our PNS role that maintains those links between your Medical Specialists and you.
Another part of our role is educating other health professionals on Parkinson’s. I have come from a Staff Development background, so education and support are passions of mine. I enjoy attending various Parkinson’s Support Groups monthly and hosting our SW Parkinson’s Seminar’s for ongoing education in the community.
I feel very privileged to have a wonderful career working alongside an amazing team of nurses and collaborating with local health professionals. This allows me to thrive and grow with new challenges and support our lovely community throughout their Parkinson’s journey.
Put the kettle on, I’ll be there soon.
Written by Donna Mallaby, PNS
Find out more about our Parkinson's Nurse Specialist Program here.